Thursday, March 13, 2014

Something for Thursday (Freakishly late, almost-Friday edition)

Whoa, sorry to be so late with this feature! But anyway, I was reading an article on Cracked a bit ago that said some mean things about the 1980s era for the band Genesis. I take exception to this, because, well, that's the only era of the band whose music I know, and I like it quite a lot -- in fact, as luck would have it, Invisible Touch is one of my favorite rock albums ever. I am not kidding, and those who disagree can lump it. Yes, I suppose I should investigate the earlier, more "proper" and truly progressive music of the band, but for my money, Invisible Touch is 80s rock as good as it gets, even if the lyrics do occasionally stray into silliness. I love the sound of the band, and I really dig the album's variations of mood throughout, from bright dance-pop to bleak moodiness to two of the best 80s ballads ever. Yes, I love Invisible Touch, and I'm not afraid to say it! Nor am I afraid to feature it on Something for Thursday. Here's the entire album: Invisible Touch.

At risk of alienating some folks... prog rock is pretentious twaddle in my book. I don't like any of it, and that includes Peter Gabriel's solo work. Genesis became a much better band, IMO, when Phil Collins dragged them into poppier terrain. And Invisible Touch was probably the masterpiece of Phil-era Genesis. I love this album too.

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Quotables

"Make your country...into a land that understands more than only war and righteous piety. Allow space in your lives for more than battle chants to inspire soldiers. Teach your people to...understand a garden, the reason for a fountain, music."

-Guy Gavriel Kay,The Lions of Al-Rassan

Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any creative art. The water is free. So drink.Drink and be filled up.

Stephen King,On Writing

We speak for Earth. Our obligation to survive is owed not just to ourselves but also to that Cosmos, ancient and vast, from which we spring.